2.10 Ventilation

Your home has an electrically operated whole house ventilation (MVHR) system that provides and extracts ventilation to your apartment. This is the large box that is located on the wall in your hall cupboard that has a number of pipes connected to the top of it that then pass up through the ceiling. Next to the unit is the main switch fused connection unit which is basically the ‘on/off’ button. This is clearly labeled and should be left on at all times and not switched off unless works need to be undertaken to the unit or the filters changed.

MVHR System

Main Switch Fused Connection Unit (please read above notes before any works are undertaken)

The ventilation unit has two filters located on the front of it and these will require cleaning/replacing and we would recommend that they are inspected every 3 months and either cleaned or replace. Page 7 of the Kinetic MVHR Operation & Monitoring manual which can be downloaded by clicking here provides details on both the filer maintenance and also the 12 monthly maintenance that the unit requires.

MVHR Filters

On the switch plate that is located in either the larder unit or wall unit in your kitchen (depending on the configuration of your apartment) is a switch that is labeled ‘extractor fan’. This switch is a boost switch that will increase the rate of air that flows into the lounge area. It should not under normal circumstances be necessary to do this and the switch should really be left in the off position.

Extraction Fan Boost Switch

The general principle of the system is to provide air to the living room and bedroom areas and at the same time extract air from the living room, kitchen and wet areas so that there is a continual circulation of clean air. Whilst the system will operate at a continuous level, it is also linked to the lighting system as well and so when a light is turned on in any of the bathrooms this will then boost the MVHR unit to run high speed in order to assist with the removal of steam from those rooms. The system is on a run-on timber and so it will remain in the boosted position and run at high speed for a period of 5–10 minutes after the lights are switch off to make sure that the steam is extracted.

You will see a number of small slot grills located in the ceilings of various room although where possible these have been recessed into reveals which will either supply or extract the air. Please do not place items of furniture or window dressings in front of these as it will impact on the operation of the system.

These systems utilise a cross flow plate heat exchanger to reclaim the majority of the heat from the stale air that is being extracted and uses this energy to heat up the clean incoming air supply.

In addition to pre-heating the air that is supplied into the rooms, the heat recovery ventilation unit also filters the incoming air and removes any fine particles passing through it improving its cleanliness.

Please ensure your kitchen extract unit is switched on when you use the cooker or hob. The switch is located on the underside of the wall unit and has a ‘0’ setting for off and you can then select either ‘1’ or ‘2’ depending on the speed you want. The extraction hood that has been installed has a fan that enables it to vent to outside air. You should follow the manufacturers’ recommendations on how frequently the filter in the hood should be changed in order to allow it to operate at its optimum efficiency.